Jammu, Jan 4: Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday asserted that unfazed by the criticism or objections (from any quarter), the Centre works with an avowed “nation first” objective and keeps the interests of the country above everything else.
“For us (Centre), the national interests reign supreme. We work to serve the interests of the country only. We will do everything that is in India’s interest, notwithstanding objections…,” Khattar said, while responding to media queries about Pakistan’s objections to (designs and other aspects of) Dulhasti and other power projects in Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The Union Power Minister is on a two-day visit to J&K for inspection of Salal, Sawalkote and other power projects in Reasi, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.
Faced with a query about the raging controversy over the Ratle project in Kishtwar district, that the members of families and relatives of active terrorists were working there, Khattar stated that the deserving people should be given employment (in a power project) and the undesirable and subversive elements should not be employed there.
“Since generally such people are employed by the local contractors. Therefore, the directions will be given that only the constructive and good people should be given jobs and not those who create obstacles in the completion of works,” Khattar said.
In response to a contention that some of those who were in the centre of controversy and were tagged as Over Ground Workers (OGWs), also figured in the photographs with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, the Union Power Minister stated, “Cognisance of it will be taken so far nothing of this nature has come to our knowledge.”
Will an NIA probe be ordered into the issue?
Khattar’s answer to this query was, “No, this does not happen. These are general complaints of a local nature. They will be sorted out at the local level. This is not a very big issue.”
On the first day of his two-day inspection visit, Khattar visited Salal, Sawalkote and Ratle power projects.
In Reasi district, Khattar also briefly addressed an event organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a temple at Mahadev Mohalla.
Addressing the gathering, he said that Jammu and Kashmir underwent a massive transformation after the abrogation of Article 370 and was marching forward on the development trajectory with an amazing pace.
“Prior to the abrogation of Article 370, J&K was caught in the vortex of conundrums of varied hues. But post-abrogation, a wave of Hindutva is sweeping here also. Hindutva is not in conflict with those who have different religious connotations and follow different sacraments to reach out to the Almighty. Hindutva treats all those individuals (irrespective of their religious affiliations) alike, who are patriots and work with the “nation first” approach,” the Union Power Minister said.
He reiterated that the focus was on development with a determined resolve.
“We don’t want anyone to distract us, and if someone does with ill intentions, our resolve is clear – We will not spare those elements,” Khattar said.